The Gloucestershire County League is a football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 league in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, founded in 1968. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.

It sits at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System

National League System

The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...

 and is a feeder to the Western League

Western Football League

The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...

, although some clubs have also moved upwards to the Hellenic League

Hellenic Football League

The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...

, such as 2005–06 champions Lydney Town

Lydney Town F.C.

Lydney Town F.C. are a football club based in Lydney, Gloucestershire, England. They joined the Hellenic League Division One in 1980 but left the league in 1984. In the 2005-06 season, they won the Gloucestershire County League title, earning promotion back into the Hellenic League Division One...

. The league has always consisted of a single division of clubs. In the 2011–12 season, 18 teams are competing in the league.

The Bristol & Suburban League, Bristol Premier Combination

Bristol Premier Combination

The Bristol Premier Combination is a football competition based in and around Bristol, England. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA. It has two divisions, the Premier Division and Division One. The Premier Division sits at level 12 of the English football league system and is...

, and the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League feed the Gloucestershire County League.

Administration

The League has a maximum size of 20 member clubs, who have to be affiliated to the Gloucestershire Football Association.

The club's ground or headquarters have to be located within the County of Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....

 or in those parts of the City of Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

 that was within the 1908 city boundaries.

The league is part of the National League system

English football league system

The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...

 and clubs may apply for promotion to or from the League.

The Joint Liaison Committee, at the end of each season, confirms promotion and relegation of clubs between the leagues and is responsible for the boundary adjustments between the leagues where appropriate. The Committee is drawn from the Western Football League

Western Football League

The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...

, Gloucestershire County League, Somerset County League, South West Peninsula League

South West Peninsula League

The South West Peninsula League is a league of football clubs in England, which was formed in 2007 from the merger of the Devon County League and the South Western League...

 and the Wiltshire League.

History

The league was originally formed in 1968. Its first Chairman was F.Dowling, who was ably assisted by the Hon. Secretary, L.V. James. Les James has the Leagues' Cup Competition named after him in recognition of his service to football and the league within Gloucestershire. Chairman, Mr F. Dowling, presented the championship trophy to Stonehouse FC

Stonehouse Town F.C.

Stonehouse Town F.C. are an English football club representing the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, currently playing in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League...

, who were the first winners of the County League.

Among the clubs that have left the Gloucestershire County League and now compete at a higher level are:

• Almondsbury
  Almondsbury F.C.
  Almondsbury UWE F.C. are English association football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. They play in Division One of the Western League, at The Field, just 220 yards from their near neighbours Almondsbury Town...
  
  
• Bishop's Cleeve
  Bishop's Cleeve F.C.
  Bishop's Cleeve F.C. are a football club based in Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1905. They joined the Hellenic Football League Division One in 1983 and reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase in the 2005-06 season. They are currently members of...
  
  
• Brimscombe & Thrupp
  Brimscombe & Thrupp F.C.
  Brimscombe and Thrupp are a football club based in Brimscombe near Stroud. They are currently members of the Gloucestershire County League and won the league in the 2010-11 season, earning promotion to the Hellenic Football League. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County...
  
  
• Bitton
• Bristol St George
  Roman Glass St George F.C.
  Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol...
  
   (now known as Roman Glass St. George
  Roman Glass St George F.C.
  Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol...
  
  )
• Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• Cinderford Town
  Cinderford Town F.C.
  Cinderford Town A.F.C. are a football club based in Cinderford in Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1922 and joined the Western League in 1946. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Southern League Division One South and West...
  
  
• Cirencester Town
  Cirencester Town F.C.
  Cirencester Town is an English football club based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at the Corinium Stadium...
  
  
• Fairford Town
  Fairford Town F.C.
  Fairford Town F.C. is a football club based in Fairford, Gloucestershire in England. The club was established in 1891 and joined the Hellenic League Division One in 1970. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Premier Division...
  
  
• Forest Green Rovers
  Forest Green Rovers F.C.
  Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
  
  

• Lawrence Weston Hallen
  Hallen F.C.
  Hallen A.F.C. is a football club based in Hallen, near Bristol, England, currently members of the Western League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA....
  
   (now known as Hallen
  Hallen F.C.
  Hallen A.F.C. is a football club based in Hallen, near Bristol, England, currently members of the Western League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA....
  
  )
• Longwell Green Sports
• Lydney Town
  Lydney Town F.C.
  Lydney Town F.C. are a football club based in Lydney, Gloucestershire, England. They joined the Hellenic League Division One in 1980 but left the league in 1984. In the 2005-06 season, they won the Gloucestershire County League title, earning promotion back into the Hellenic League Division One...
  
  
• Oldland
  Oldland Abbotonians F.C.
  Oldland Abbotonians F.C. is a football club based in Oldland Common, near Bristol, England. In the 2006-07 season, they finished third in the Somerset County League, which is a level 11 league of the English football league system. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Western Football...
  
   (now known as Oldland Abbotonians
  Oldland Abbotonians F.C.
  Oldland Abbotonians F.C. is a football club based in Oldland Common, near Bristol, England. In the 2006-07 season, they finished third in the Somerset County League, which is a level 11 league of the English football league system. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Western Football...
  
  )
• Winterbourne United
  Winterbourne United F.C.
  Winterbourne United F.C. are a football club based in Winterbourne, near Bristol, England. They were established in 1911 and joined the Gloucestershire County League in 1992. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West...
  
  
• Slimbridge
  Slimbridge F.C.
  Slimbridge Football Club are an English football club representing the village of Slimbridge, near Dursley, Gloucestershire , currently playing in the Hellenic League...
  
  
• Shortwood United
  Shortwood United F.C.
  Shortwood United Football Club is an English football club from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire who are members of the Hellenic League Premier Division. Its home ground, Meadowbank Ground, features floodlighting. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:The club has been members...
  
  
• Tytherington Rocks
  Tytherington Rocks F.C.
  Tytherington Rocks F.C. is a football club based in Tytherington, near Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.They were formed in 1932 and Joined the Bristol and Suburban Association Football League...
  
  
• Yate Town
  Yate Town F.C.
  Yate Town F.C. is a football club based in Yate, South Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1906 as Yate Rovers and changed their name to Yate YMCA in 1946, becoming Yate Town in 1969...
  
  

Two current members of the Gloucestershire County League have played at a higher level:

• Chipping Sodbury played in the Western Football League
  Western Football League
  The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
  
   Division 2 in the 1950-51 and 1950-51 seasons before dropping back to local football in the Bristol and District League
  Bristol and District League
  The Bristol and District League is a football competition based in Bristol, England. The top division in this league, which is the Senior Division, sits at level 14 of the English football league system and is a feeder to the Bristol Premier Combination. This league has a total of seven divisions. ...
  
  .
• Tuffley Rovers
  Tuffley Rovers F.C.
  Tuffley Rovers F.C. are a football club based in Tuffley, Gloucester, England. In the 2011-12 season, the club is playing in the Gloucestershire County League, the 11th level of the English football league system. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:In the 1988-89...
  
   currently play in the County League but have previously competed in the Hellenic Football League
  Hellenic Football League
  The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
  
  .

Other former members of the County League have dropped back into local football. Notable clubs include:

• Almondsbury Greenway
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
   left the County League in 1982 for the Hellenic Football League
  Hellenic Football League
  The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
  
  . After further promotion as Almondsbury Town
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
   to the Southern League
  Southern Football League
  The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
  
   they have in 2011 dropped back to the Bristol & Suburban League.
• Hardwicke
  Hardwicke A.F.C.
  Hardwicke A.F.C. are an amateur football club from Gloucestershire, England. The club was formed in 1933. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:...
  
   joined the County League in 1999/2000 and gained promotion to the Hellenic Football League
  Hellenic Football League
  The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
  
   but have now returned to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.
• Harrow Hill
  Harrow Hill F.C.
  Harrow Hill A.F.C. is an English football club based in the village of Harrow Hill, Gloucestershire. The club are currently members of Division One of the Gloucester Northern Senior League and play at Larksfield Road. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:Established in...
  
   joined the County League in 1982/83 and gained promotion to the Hellenic Football League
  Hellenic Football League
  The Hellenic Football League is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern Herefordshire, western Greater London, and northern Wiltshire. There is also one team from Hampshire.The league...
  
   in 1995/96 but have now returned to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.
• Stonehouse Town
  Stonehouse Town F.C.
  Stonehouse Town F.C. are an English football club representing the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, currently playing in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League...
  
   were original member of the County League and competed in the competition for 20 years until 1988. From 1947 until 1960 the club played in the Western Football League
  Western Football League
  The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
  
  .

Member clubs for 2011-12 season

• Berkeley Town
• Bishop's Cleeve
  Bishop's Cleeve F.C.
  Bishop's Cleeve F.C. are a football club based in Bishop's Cleeve, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1905. They joined the Hellenic Football League Division One in 1983 and reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase in the 2005-06 season. They are currently members of...
  
   Reserves
• Bristol Academy
• Chipping Sodbury Town
• Cribbs Friends Life
• DRG Stapleton
• Ellwood
• Hanham Athletic
• Henbury
• Kings Stanley
• Kingswood
• Longlevens
• Patchway Town
• Rockleaze Rangers
• Taverners
• Thornbury Town
• Tuffley Rovers
  Tuffley Rovers F.C.
  Tuffley Rovers F.C. are a football club based in Tuffley, Gloucester, England. In the 2011-12 season, the club is playing in the Gloucestershire County League, the 11th level of the English football league system. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:In the 1988-89...
  
  
• Yate Town
  Yate Town F.C.
  Yate Town F.C. is a football club based in Yate, South Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1906 as Yate Rovers and changed their name to Yate YMCA in 1946, becoming Yate Town in 1969...
  
   Reserves

Footnote: As there were no clubs eligible for promotion from the feeder leagues, Longlevens and Filton Town were elected to fill the vacancies.

- Longlevens join from the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.

- Bristol Academy are a newly formed club who will play at the Filton College

Filton College

Filton College is a further education college in Filton, Bristol, England.The main site lies on the A38 just south of Filton Aerodrome. A second major campus, dedicated to performing arts, fine art and sport, and known as WISE , opened in 2005 adjacent to Filton High School, near Bristol Parkway...

 WISE campus.

List of champions

• 1968-69 - Stonehouse Town
  Stonehouse Town F.C.
  Stonehouse Town F.C. are an English football club representing the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, currently playing in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League...
  
  
• 1969-70 - Bristol St George
  Roman Glass St George F.C.
  Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol...
  
  
• 1970-71 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• 1971-72 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• 1972-73 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• 1973-74 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• 1974-75 - Matson Athletic
• 1975-76 - Matson Athletic
• 1976-77 - Almondsbury Greenway
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
  
• 1977-78 - Almondsbury Greenway
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
  
• 1978-79 - Almondsbury Greenway
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
  
• 1979-80 - Almondsbury Greenway
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
  
• 1980-81 - Almondsbury Greenway
  Almondsbury Town F.C.
  Almondsbury Town F.C. are a football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. The club resigned from the Zamaretto Southern Football League Division One South & West at the end of the 2010–11 season and the first team disbanded, but they are continuing to play at the level of their former...
  
  
• 1981-82 - Shortwood United
  Shortwood United F.C.
  Shortwood United Football Club is an English football club from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire who are members of the Hellenic League Premier Division. Its home ground, Meadowbank Ground, features floodlighting. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:The club has been members...
  
  
• 1982-83 - Old Georgians

• 1983-84 - Sharpness
• 1984-85 - Old Georgians
• 1985-86 - Patchway
• 1986-87 - Old Georgians
• 1987-88 - Old Georgians
• 1988-89 - Lawrence Weston Hallen
  Hallen F.C.
  Hallen A.F.C. is a football club based in Hallen, near Bristol, England, currently members of the Western League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA....
  
  
• 1989-90 - Ellwood
• 1990-91 - Tuffley Rovers
  Tuffley Rovers F.C.
  Tuffley Rovers F.C. are a football club based in Tuffley, Gloucester, England. In the 2011-12 season, the club is playing in the Gloucestershire County League, the 11th level of the English football league system. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-History:In the 1988-89...
  
  
• 1991-92 - Patchway Town
• 1992-93 - Hallen
  Hallen F.C.
  Hallen A.F.C. is a football club based in Hallen, near Bristol, England, currently members of the Western League Premier Division. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA....
  
  
• 1993-94 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• 1994-95 - Henbury Old Boys
• 1995-96 - DRG
• 1996-97 - Old Georgians
• 1997-98 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  

• 1998-99 - Cadbury Heath
  Cadbury Heath F.C.
  Cadbury Heath F.C. are a football club based in Cadbury Heath, Bristol, England. They were among the founding members of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 and have won the title 7 times and runners-up on 4 occasions....
  
  
• 1999-00 - Highridge United
• 2000-01 - Winterbourne United
  Winterbourne United F.C.
  Winterbourne United F.C. are a football club based in Winterbourne, near Bristol, England. They were established in 1911 and joined the Gloucestershire County League in 1992. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West...
  
  
• 2001-02 - Roman Glass St. George
  Roman Glass St George F.C.
  Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol...
  
  
• 2002-03 - Patchway Town
• 2003-04 - Almondsbury
  Almondsbury F.C.
  Almondsbury UWE F.C. are English association football club based in Almondsbury, near Bristol, England. They play in Division One of the Western League, at The Field, just 220 yards from their near neighbours Almondsbury Town...
  
  
• 2004-05 - Highridge United
• 2005-06 - Lydney Town
  Lydney Town F.C.
  Lydney Town F.C. are a football club based in Lydney, Gloucestershire, England. They joined the Hellenic League Division One in 1980 but left the league in 1984. In the 2005-06 season, they won the Gloucestershire County League title, earning promotion back into the Hellenic League Division One...
  
  
• 2006-07 - Roman Glass St. George
  Roman Glass St George F.C.
  Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol...
  
  
• 2007-08 - Hardwicke
• 2008-09 - Slimbridge
  Slimbridge F.C.
  Slimbridge Football Club are an English football club representing the village of Slimbridge, near Dursley, Gloucestershire , currently playing in the Hellenic League...
  
  
• 2009-10 - Thornbury Town
• 2010-11 - Brimscombe & Thrupp
  Brimscombe & Thrupp F.C.
  Brimscombe and Thrupp are a football club based in Brimscombe near Stroud. They are currently members of the Gloucestershire County League and won the league in the 2010-11 season, earning promotion to the Hellenic Football League. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County...